We love hearing about the missionary work in Ukraine and the best is being able to see her face light up now and see her smile as she shares her experiences. Since Sister Vehar has admitted that she is QUITE behind in her journaling, I’d like to write a few things down from our conversations over the last few weeks so that she has some form of documentation of her experiences and memories.
Kaeleigh told me today, April 29, that this has shown to be the hardest of the last three transfers together with Sister Thompson. The first transfer together, they didn’t have anyone to teach, so they worked like crazy to contact and find as many potential people to teach as possible. Then came second transfer together and they had so many people to teach that they could barely find time to teach everyone. They didn’t dare cancel a single appointment whether they were sick or had time constraints...or even if it meant teaching a lesson outside in the middle of a wicked hail storm. Yes, Kaeleigh said she had one of her best lessons while getting pelted in the face with hail. Sounds exciting, right? This woman she was teaching in the storm is Margo. Margo and her husband were contacted by Kaeleigh and her companion, Sister Thompson, in the street. They discussed the Book of Mormon and basic gospel principles that were so exciting to them that they talked about how anxious they were all week to meet and get that book that would change their lives. Margo and her cousin came together with Margo’s baby to meet the missionaries and when the storm came, Margo’s cousin took the baby home. Margo continued to ask wonderful questions as if she didn’t even notice it was hailing outside. She left with her husband to travel for a few weeks, so Kaeleigh is excited to begin teaching her and her husband when they return.
Kaeleigh told me about a man from the Ivory Coast in Africa that they found and began teaching. They are currently trying to pass him to elders that serve over the International branch. This gentleman speaks French. Months ago, I asked Kaeleigh how her French was anymore (after taking four years in high school). She had told me it was “trash” or something to that extent...she said she couldn’t remember any of it. Well, this man speaks French, and they just happened to have a French Book of Mormon. Kaeleigh testified of the gift of tongues as she said that she was able to “sort of” communicate with this man and was recalling how to say French words that she always struggled to remember during high school.
Kaeleigh said as they are beginning their 3rd transfer together now, the hardest part is having to weed out people who aren’t sincere or progressing. The Ukraine Kyiv/Moldova mission does something called 30/30 where they teach English for 30 minutes and then in return ask the “student” if they will allow them to study the Gospel or share a spiritual message with them for the second 30 minutes of the hour. She feels they have a lot of people that say they would like that “deal”, but they only do it for the free 30 minute solo English lessons. One of her 30/30 lessons ended up turning into a group lesson because members of a band wanted to take this 30/30 lesson so they could learn "Christian" words. Their band plays at their own church and they only wanted to learn words that they could use to preach to their congregation. It wasn't really working in the group setting she said so it sounds like they weren't able to continue the 30/30's with them. (Kaeleigh teaches group English classes twice a week. 30/30s are geared for an individual learning experience with less distractions and a learn-at-your-own pace .)
Kaeleigh told us today about their (Orthodox) Easter Sunday yesterday. They arrived to church and as they were about to start, police came in and talked to their bishop. The bishop stepped up to the pulpit and told everyone there is a report of a bomb in a church in Ukraine and so the congregation would have to step out of the building for the next hour so that the authorities could search for a bomb. Kaeleigh said most of the members went home instead of waiting outside in the pouring rain (she said they usually have about 150 members and they ended up only having 30 there after everyone went home).
It's hard for me to remember three weeks worth of conversations with my girl. This is the best I can do for now, but it's better than nothing. Kaeleigh is doing fantastic! Her cousin, Aubree Heywood, returned from her mission on Friday and I made sure to call and connect them so they could FINALLY catch up with each other "face to face". It's been over 19 months since these two have talked to each other. They are best cousins...that's better than best friends by the way. It was so fun to listen and watch these two young ladies chat mission stuff. I SO can't wait for their real-life reunion...only 92 more days!
Sisters Vehar and Thompson
Sisters Vehar and Goncear
Kaeleigh's Ukrainian friend
COUSINS!!! Welcome home Aubree
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